Nergui had been aware from his own professional interest that the project in question had not been proceeding entirely smoothly. The identification and potential extraction of the gold reserves had been more problematic than had initially been envisaged. Increased investment had been required, and while the size of the potential returns was still unquestioned, the timescale for realizing them had become increasingly uncertain. Further investment had been sought particularly from the Russians, and Nergui understood that relationships between the parties had become strained.
“I’m aware of some of that,” Nergui said.
“Were you aware that Mr. Ransom was also involved in this project?”
Nergui sat forward in his chair. “My understanding-” He glanced across at the Minister. “Our understanding was that Ransom was working for one of the companies prospecting in the north.”
Wilson nodded. “That is correct. But he was a freelancer. He’d recently been recruited-covertly, to use your word-to provide some advice to the consortium in the Gobi. Primarily, as I understand it, to validate some apparently suspect data being produced by one of the partner companies.”
“Were we aware of this?” Nergui asked the Minister.
The Minister gave a minute shake of his head. “We were not told,” he said. “Ransom’s visa was provided on the basis of his work in the north.”
Nergui turned to Wilson. “So Mr. Ransom was also acting illegally. Was the UK government aware of this?”
Wilson looked pained. “We were not informed officially,” he said. “But I can’t pretend that we were entirely unaware. Mr. Ransom had something of a reputation as a troubleshooter in such matters.”
“So are you telling us,” Nergui said, “that Ransom’s killing was in some way connected to the tensions you are talking about?”
Wilson shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. But it was Ransom’s death that brought me out here. We didn’t know what was behind it, but it set alarm bells ringing. I wanted to find out more about the state of play in the consortium. Make sure that our interests were protected.”
Nergui stared at him. He turned to the Minister. “I take it we were not aware of this either? Or did you just decide not to share it with me?”
“Nergui,” the Minister said, “we were aware of none of this. Of course I would not have kept this kind of information from you. Not in the circumstances.”
Nergui knew only too well that, in all circumstances, the Minister would share only what he chose to share. But it was difficult to believe that he would not have been open in this case.
“Which means,” Nergui said to Wilson, “that you are also traveling illegally, in that you lied on your visa application about your reasons for entering the country.”
“Not entirely,” Wilson said. “I indicated on my application that, although I was accompanying my wife on her research visit, I would also take the opportunity to consult with the ambassador and other UK representatives about trade matters. I just didn’t specify the nature of the consultations.”
“Nergui,” the Minister said, “I can see no point in raking over the question of whether Professor Wilson is here legally or not. I would have preferred a greater degree of openness, but that time is now past.”
“I had no intention to deceive,” Wilson said. “I merely wanted my entry into the country to be as low-key as possible. I did not know-I still do not know for sure-what interests are involved here, and I wanted, as far as possible, to observe without being observed.”
“The fact remains,” Nergui said, “that in effect you have withheld evidence that might have helped us progress more quickly in identifying Ransom’s killer. Your information, at the very least, provides a possible motive for the murder, which to date has been missing.” He paused. “If we’d been able to act more quickly, we might have prevented further murders. And,” he added, “Chief Inspector McLeish might still be with us.”
Wilson nodded slowly. “I know. I understand that. That’s why I’m here. When I heard that the Chief Inspector was missing-well, I realized it was not appropriate for me to keep my silence any longer.”
Appropriate, Nergui thought. Brutal serial killings, a potential kidnap. And this man talks about what is appropriate.
“Let me be straight,” Wilson said. “My concern is a simple one. Some of the interests involved in the project are, I believe, dangerous ones. I do not know precisely who is involved, but we know the kinds of organizations. And I suspect that some of those involved would be more than capable of murder.”
“So you think that Ransom was murdered because of his involvement in the project?”
“I think it’s a possibility. Why he was killed, I’ve no idea. Whether he had some knowledge, some information-”
“And why was he killed in such a brutal manner?” Nergui said. “If these interests are as you say, then his killing would have been carried out professionally. There would have been no need for such a display. He would have been simply spirited away.”
“Like Chief Inspector McLeish?”
Nergui nodded. “Exactly like Chief Inspector McLeish.” Nergui paused for a moment. “Professor, I am sorry to be rude but I would very much like to speak to the Minister alone for a few minutes.”
The Minister looked as if he was about to interrupt, but Wilson said, “Of course. I understand entirely. I will wait outside.”
“Thank you,” the Minister said, looking at Nergui. “We will just be a few minutes, I think.”
As soon as Wilson had closed the door behind him, the Minister said, “I don’t want to hear your views, Nergui. We have to take this seriously.”
“I’m not suggesting for one moment that we don’t take it seriously,” Nergui said. “But I’m not at all clear what it means. Why should we trust Wilson?”
“He is here representing the British government.”
“He’s here under false pretenses, carrying out unauthorized inquiries into a UK citizen who was also working here under false pretenses. He has withheld information relevant to a major murder inquiry. And not through any ignorance, either-when I spoke to him the other night it was quite clear that he knew full well how serious this was. He’s only spoken up now because McLeish’s disappearance could expose a major scandal. So why should we trust him? We don’t know what his agenda is. We only know that he’s lied to us, to the authorities, from the beginning.”
“Nergui, you’re experienced enough to understand the politics behind all this. You know we’ve had concerns about the funding of the project in the south. We’ve turned a blind eye because of the importance of the project, that’s all-we needed the investment.”
“Of course, and we’ll take money from anywhere if the price is right. I understand that well enough.”
The Minister shook his head, looking as if his patience was wearing thin. “Nergui, it is not your place to be questioning government policy. Your role is to maintain law and order-a role you’ve singly failed to carry out in this case, as far as I can see.”
“It is not easy to carry out that role if information is being withheld from me.”
“Nergui, you are drifting into dangerous waters here. Respected as you are, like everyone else you hold your position in the Ministry through my patronage. There are people out there who would be only too pleased to see you fall-”
“I take that for granted.”
“I know your strengths, Nergui. I value your intellect, your honesty, your perception. These qualities are not common in an organization comprised largely of incompetent yes-men. But I need you on my side.”
“In that case, you have to trust me. I can’t operate if I don’t know who or what to believe.”
“Nergui, believe me, I knew nothing of Wilson’s story until this evening.”
“I believe that.” Nergui smiled. “If only because it must be a painful admission for you. It is disturbing to find that for all our intelligence work, there are things we are unaware of.”
�
�It is very disturbing, Nergui. If there is any truth in Wilson’s suppositions, it suggests we have a potentially very unstable situation in the south. If these people are prepared to act in this way-”
“But, I’m asking again, are we right to trust Wilson? He tells us that, for reasons unknown, he believes Ransom might have been murdered by-what? Organized crime? The Russian mafia? The triads? And they choose to kill Ransom in such a brutal way? I’m not sure if the story makes any sense.”
“It depends on what might lie behind the murder,” the Minister said. If what we’re seeing here is a series of eye-for-an-eye killings-the kind of gang feud that we speculated about-then maybe a high profile killing makes sense.’
“Well, maybe. But Ransom’s was the fourth murder, at least as far as we know. So who are we suggesting started this round of killings-the Brits?”
The Minister shrugged. “I don’t know, Nergui. I can’t make sense of it. But you don’t seem to be making a great deal of progress either.”
Nergui nodded. “I can’t deny that,” he said. “I feel as if I’m grasping at shadows here. We have another lead, but I don’t know how it would fit with any of this.” He briefly outlined their visit to the illegal prospectors and their encounter with Cholon. “It may well be another waste of time.”
“You have to take it seriously,” the Minister said. “I’m not sure whether a lone psychopath makes any more sense than what Wilson’s suggesting, but if there’s half a chance it’s true-”
“Then we have to stop him.”
Nergui started to rise, but the Minister gestured him to sit for a moment longer. “But, Nergui, we also have to take notice of what Wilson says. As you say, we don’t know what his agenda might be. We don’t know if he’s telling the whole truth or, indeed, the truth at all. But if there’s any substance in what he’s saying, then one of our major national investment programs might be on the point of turning into a bloodbath.”
“It’s not much of a choice,” Nergui said, rising. “A serial killer or a mafia feud.”
“It may be worse than that,” the Minister said. “It may be both.”
CHAPTER 19
The weather had eased slightly by the time Nergui made his way back over Sukh Bataar Square. Snow was still falling, but less thickly than before and Nergui could now see his way through the haze of streetlighting to the far side of the square. The landscape was heavily covered in snow, buildings and statues rendered shapeless by the drifts. There was no sign of human life across the vast area of the square, though a snowplow was standing, apparently abandoned, in one of the main streets.
Nergui glanced at his watch. Four thirty. Time for the next leg on his goose chase. Nergui realized that he was operating almost entirely on instinct. It was a strange sensation. For all his occasional talk of intuition, Nergui’s normal approach was one of painstaking rigor. He knew from experience that crimes were much more likely to be resolved through a systematic sifting of the evidence than through wild hunches or undisciplined guesswork. But in this case, though enormous efforts had been devoted to working steadily through every piece of evidence, the results had been virtually nonexistent.
Not that this made Nergui’s actions any more sensible or justifiable. He knew that if he had caught a junior officer racing across the country in the way he had been doing, he might well have been taking disciplinary action by now. He smiled, grimly. Everyone knew that the rules did not apply to Nergui, so he was unlikely to be challenged from within the police. But if he did not start to deliver some results soon, his position might indeed become untenable.
He was gratified to see, as he trudged back into the police HQ parking lot, that the four wheel drive vehicle had been prepared for snow travel, with chains and additional spot lamps. As he stepped into the warm building, he saw Doripalam sitting with Cholon in the rest room. He waved, and both men jumped to their feet and came out to meet him.
“Everything’s ready,” Doripalam said. “I got the vehicles prepared. We’re ready to go when you are.”
Nergui nodded. “You have firearms?”
Doripalam glanced at Cholon. “For you and me, yes.”
“That’s fine. I hope that they will not be needed, but we should take no risks.”
“Should we take other backup?”
Nergui shook his head. “It’s your choice but I would prefer not. We may well be wasting our time. I would rather that we did not waste that of too many others. But we should have whatever resource is available standing by.”
“I’ve arranged that.”
Nergui smiled. He was beginning to suspect that Doripalam’s approach to this case was much more rational, more cool-headed than his own. He turned to Cholon. “Are you sure you wish to accompany us? I don’t know what kind of risks might be involved.”
Cholon shrugged. “If this is my brother, then my presence may be helpful.”
This was true enough. Nergui did not know what they were stepping into. But if they did find Badzar, it was conceivable that he would behave more rationally toward Cholon than to others.
“Okay,” Nergui said. “But it’s your decision. And you must do nothing unless we tell you to.”
Cholon nodded, and the three of them trooped back outside to the waiting vehicle. The snow had almost stopped now, and the sky was clearing, with a few stars already visible. The weather would become colder before dawn, Nergui thought, the roads more icy and treacherous.
Doripalam climbed into the driver’s seat. Nergui sat beside him, and Cholon climbed into the back. “Where are we going?” Doripalam asked.
“Back to the place where we found Delgerbayar’s body. The disused factory.”
Doripalam turned to stare at Nergui. “Back there? You really think we’re likely to find something there?”
Nergui shook his head. “I really have no idea,” he said. “I’m flying blind. If it were you behaving like this, I’d have you on a charge by now. But there’s something-I don’t know. It’s close to the apartment where Badzar stayed for those two nights. The timing of that coincided exactly with Delgerbayar’s killing. I have a feeling about it, that’s all it is. But I want to check it out.”
“But the place was thoroughly searched after Delgerbayar’s body was found.”
“I know. But I think he may have been back there.”
“He’d be taking a big risk.”
“Maybe not. It’s no riskier than anywhere else. Maybe less than other places. We assumed that the factory had no particular significance. We searched it thoroughly, then left it. We saw no reason to have it guarded or under surveillance. He might have realized that, once we’d finished our business with Delgerbayar, it was the last place we would return to.”
Doripalam looked far from convinced, but shrugged. “Well, as you say, it’s worth a try.” He turned on the ignition and pulled the vehicle slowly out into the street. Even with the snow chains, driving was precarious and they could feel the heavy vehicle slipping slightly as they turned into the main street. Conditions would become worse as the snow gradually turned to ice under the clear skies.
The factory area was not far, but the journey took them close to thirty minutes as Doripalam fought to maintain control of the vehicle. Finally, they turned into the shadowy concrete yard outside the factory.
The sky had cleared fully now, and there was a nearly full moon shining brilliantly above the horizon. In the pale moon light, the thick silent snow was eerie, deadening the sound of their movements. It lay thick across the yard, and had drifted deeply against the empty factory itself. Nergui jumped down into the snow, feeling it crunch under his feet. Even here, in the lee of the buildings, it was a good six inches deep.
He walked slowly across to the door through which they had gained entry on the previous occasion, Doripalam and Cholon following behind. Other than the sound of their own footsteps in the snow, the silence was absolute. The low moon lengthened the shadows, so that the side of the factory lay in darkness.
&nb
sp; The door had been boarded up following their previous entrance. It appeared to be undisturbed but Nergui was aware that there were several other entrances around the building, which might allow access.
He turned toward Doripalam who was carrying the large crowbar they had brought in the rear of the truck. Doripalam was standing waiting, but Cholon had stopped some yards back, caught in the moonlight, staring at the massive building in front of them.
“Is something wrong?” Nergui half whispered, the sound of his voice muffled by the snow.
“I’ve just realized what this place is,” Cholon said. “I came here only once or twice, and I did not recognize it in the dark.”
“What do you mean?” Nergui moved to take the crowbar from Doripalam, watching Cholon closely.
“It’s the factory where our father worked. It was when he lost his job here that we were forced to move out of the city.”
Nergui nodded. With a slight sense of shame, he realized that his primary emotion was one of relief, an acknowledgment that the shadows he was chasing might, after all, prove to have some substance. He could see that Cholon’s emotions, by contrast, were confused, his recognition of the truth battling with a realization of its implications.
“We must press on,” Nergui said. He inserted the crowbar behind the first of the nailed boards and slowly eased it away from the door. The doorway had been expertly sealed and it took some time to remove all the boarding to the point where the entrance was accessible. Finally, though, they had it cleared, and Nergui kicked the door open.
After the deadened silence of the landscape outside, the echo of the opening door was startling, booming around the enormous vaulted space beyond. Nergui waited a moment for the sound to die away, and then stepped carefully into the darkness. He waited again before preparing to turn on his flashlight, allowing his eyes to grow accustomed to the blackness.
As his eyes adjusted he realized that the darkness was not complete. The large factory room itself was unlit, but at the far end of the room was the faintest of lights hardly visible from this distance. Nergui squinted, trying to orientate himself to the shape of the building. It was, he realized, a glimmer of light shining under a door. The door of the room where they had found Delgerbayar’s body.
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